Feed mechanism for wirebound-box-blank machines and the like



Mar. 6, 1923.

1,447,490. J. SHELLENBERGER.

' FEED MEQHANISM FOR WIREBOUND BOX BLANK MACHINES AND THE LIKE. 4

ORIGINAL FILED OCT- 25. 199. '3 SHEETS-SHEET I'.

Bd/LKK Zaav an: a?"

Mar. 6, 1923. 1,447,490.

1. SHELLENBERGER.

FEED MECHANISM FOR WIREBOUND BOX BLANK MACHINES AND THE LIKE) URIGINAL Fll ED OCT- 25. !9l9- 4 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ill lllllll llllllllfllllllll Jim/Cad 116/210 .dellcexg'en 1,447,490. .FEED MECHANISM FOR WIREBOUND BOX BLANK MACHINES AND THE LlKE.

Mar. 6, 1923.

J. SHELLENBERGER,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ORIGINAL FILED OCT- 25, I919- Ti l I J'zavezaar.

JOHN SHELLENBERGER, 0F ROME, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO SEALED CASE COMPANY,

A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

rinses FEED MECHANISM FUR IIRLBD'0'lflIll-IBOK-BLANE: IVIACHINES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 25, 1. 918, Serial No. 333,220. Renewed April 1., 1921. Serial No. 457,704.

of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Feed Mechanisms for irebound-Box-Blank Machines and the like, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to certain improvements in feed mechanisms for wire bound box blank machines and the like; andthe objects and nature of the invention will'be readily understood by those skilled in-thcart in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred mechanical expression or embodiment of the invention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope thereof.

i Heretofore, difiiculties have been'encountered in the manufacture of wire bound box blanks by machinery, among other reasons because of the difficult; of keeping the longitudinal edges of the pieces of thin lumber or veneer in close contact, while passing through the stapling machine, as is necessary for the production of such blanks with the desired tight joints between the edgesof the pieces of lumber. Often, the pieces of'lum- .ber vary in thickness, or in degree of hard ness, and sometimes the pieces of lumber have become curved, cupped or otherwise distortedfrom true flat form by warping. The jerking action of the step by step movement of; the feed chains commonly employed in Wire bound box blank stapling machines,v

often tends to separate the piecesof lumber, particularly where the pieces vary in thickness, hardness or form.

It has heretofore been necessary for the machine operator to most closely watch the pieces of lumber-while being carried for ward by the feed chains, and to push forward pieces where separation occurs, to maintain the desired close contact between the lumber pieces. It is not always possible to thus properly position the pieces in the feed chains and it is almost impossible to secure operators who will-give the desired constant care andv attention necessary to the successful operation of the machines commonly in use. and also to secure operators who will properly place the lumber in the machine and feed the same to the feed chains heretofore employed.

.To reduce the aforementioned difhculties to the minimum, I have produced feed mechanism for such pieces of lumber or veneer, characterized by an initial or auxiliary friction feed designed to press each piece of lumber forward into close en a ement with the preceding piece that has been delivered by such initial'feed to a feed chain embodying teeth that take firm hold of the lumber pieces to positively carry them forward but also permit said initial feedto press said pieces forward into close edge contact with respect to said chains, and this without regard to variations in the thickness, hardness or shape of the lumber pieces, within reason.

An object of the invention is to provide means for advancing a succession of flat pieces of thin lumber or the-like by posltlvely biting into or taking holdof the same in such manner that each sheet is held against stopping or retrograde movement with respect to said means yet is free to be forced forward with respect to said means, in connection with mechanism for successively moving said pieces forward into said means with comparative rapidity for pressing the front edge of each piece into snug engagement with the rearedge of the preceding piece or into engagement with portions of said means employed to space sections of the blank to be formed.

A further object of the invention is to improve feed mechanisms that handle thin veneer or sheets of lumber such as employed in making wire bound box blanks, with the end in view of increasing the accuracy of such mechanisms andthe ease with which the sheets can be delivered thereto.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and in combinationsand arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fin: 1, is side elevation of a wire bound box blank machine embod in mv invention,

Fig; 41, diagrammaticallyillustrates a wire bound box blank machine in horihontal sec stapling mechanisms "periodically operated The cross head isreCiproCated by drive"'shaft 4:, "through the ine'diumof one or more recipby reciprocating cross head 3.

rocating pitmen 5 and crank or eccentric s v I the'li'i'mber sheetswhilethe' feed is at rest between'itsfeedi-ng strokes. Endless chains connections 6.

"1 In wire bound boxblank machines' feed mechanism is employed to' advance the thin [sheets of lumber andthe binding wires restfing thereon, step bystep beneath. the stapling mechanism so'that said mechanism appliesstaple to straddle said wires and enter have" been employed to feed the lumber sheets through the stapling mechanism, and 0;

thesechains 'have'been operated step by step and timed with the movements of the sta- 'pling mechanism through the medium of ratchet mechanism. actuated by the drive shaft l. My present improvementsrelates to feeding mechanism for the lumber sheets and blanks, and any suitable means can be" employed for actuating'the same, although inthisexample I show conventional ratchet "mech'anism'j for this purpose. My improved means for'b'acking the work to hold'the sam to said teeth.

In the example illustrated, I show two such endless link belts 8, arranged a distance apart in parallelism and 'mov'ing'as one. These belts are arranged longitudinally of or lengths travel longitudinally of and are upheld and "maintained in the desired horizontal' plane "byf'e'longated horizontal sup- 'porti'ng'tracks, rails or bars 9 arranged longitudinallyof the machine frame and "sup' ported thereby) The lumber sheets" rest and slide forward on the top surfaces of these railsand the'oraeredge portions of the tops of the rails are usually formed with longitudinal ups'tanding guide edges 9 to engage the end edges of the lumber sheets and main tain' saidshe'ets in alineinent. These rails are also" "formed with longitudinal top *-'Qro0ves or guideways 9 in" which the top plies or lengths of the feed chain arecon- Fig. 5, 1s a detail longitudinal vertical .fined and on the flat floors of which the These feed chains are carried by sprocket Wheels 10? on and driven by the drive shaft 10 and by alined idler sprocket wheels 11 supported in any-suitable manner, although I show the idlers 11 supported by'brackets 11.,secured to and depend-ingfrom the rails 9. The drive. shaftlO is mounted m the machine frameand at 'one end projects beyond 'the same to receivethe'ratchetwheel 12 rotated step by step through the medium of pawl 12, moved'back and forthon its operative andreturn strokes by pawl carrier 12". The carrier 12is oscillated by pitm'an 12" having eccentric or. crank connection 112 with main drive shaft 4:. However, I do not wish to li1nit my invention to anyi'particular actuating devices for the feed'inechanism.

Thefeedc'hains 8 einbody more or less closely arranged forwardly pointing" elev'atedlundercutblades 'or' teeth a. Each blade has anelongated'upwardly and forwardly inclined straight edge aflongitudi nally of the chain and at its front end terminating at "the" sharp penetrating point a formed by undercutting'ft'hefront end of the blade. Each blade "can form or'be 'fm'mediby' a linkof the chain. The chain slid'eways-S) are of such depth with respect to the Vertical width ofthe chain tha't said teeth will project a short distance, say about one sixteenth of an inch 'n'rore orless, above 'feeclmechaiiism comprises a chain 'feed'made up of one or more endlessdink' belts or chains" embodying peculiar inclined or tapered work penetrating or biting'teethand the horizontal plane of the surfaces ofthe rails 9"on which the blanks "(work) slide.

said points. These; points are sdforined forced forwardly with respect to the chain but will be heldb'y the saw'tooth' points against relative rearward"morement requiring the blanks to move forward with the the machine and their straight upperplies means and arrangements "can befpfovided for thus holding the "nutter-sheets "crews on rails 9,' although in 'the main views ofthe rails arranged above and parallel with the rails 9', and-uppen'endless link'belts or chains 1o, aboveand par1a11e1 "with'chains 8 t and having their lower" rsrwardiy 'mttin drawings, I show"upper"pr"essure barsor ,ment.

self to any particular structure for supportlengths or plies held down to the lumber sheets by said upper rails 15. These upper chains 16 have long forwardly inclined proto the thickness of the sheet lumber to be varied according to the thickness of the sheet lumber to be handled. In the particular example illustrated, I show rails 15 carried by brackets 17 secured to the rails 9 by clamping bolts 18 passing through vertical slots in the brackets to permit said adjust- I-Iowever, I do not wish to limit mying and adjusting'said upper or presser rails.

The upper feed chains 16 travel with and are driven from the actuating means of the lower feed chains. For instance, I show the upper chains mounted on idler sprocket wheels 19 at the lumber-sheet-receiving end of themachine andon driving sprockets 20 at the stapled-blank discharge end of the machine. The idlers 19 are carried by and mounted on boxes or blocks 21 mounted and vertically adjustable in upright brackets 22 clamped to the main rails 9, and adjustable tively connected with and driven by shaft 10 through the medium of gearing 24. The

gearing 24 and the various sprocket wheels are so arranged and ofsuch relative diameters that the operative portions of the upper "and lower chains 8, 16, travel at the same 50- speed.

At the lumber sheetreoeiving end of the machine, I provide an lnitial or auxillary lumber sheet or veneerfeeding device for rapidly moving the sheets forward and delivering them to the somewhat slower moving feed chains. In the example illustrated, this initial feed is composed of upper and lower cooperating rotating rolls. the "peripheral speed of which exceeds the surface speed of the operative portions of the feed chains. The upper rolls 25, are positively driven and are fixed to and rotated by the sprocket wheels 19 which are driven by the chains 16. Each sprocket 19 has a feed roll arranged at the inner side thereof and alined therewith and of slightly greater diameter than i the sprocket wheel so that the circumferential surface thereof travels at a slightly greater speed than the feed chains. There is a cooperatingdower roll 26 for each upper feed roll 25. Each lower roll is an idler and is yieldinglyl upheld with a constant tendency to move upinto contact with its corresponding upper roll. These lower rolls can be pressed upwardly by any suitable means, although I show them freely rotatable on suitable alined axes carried by the free ends of vertically swingable levers 27,- fulcrumed between their ends to brackets 28 secured to and depending from the rails 9 and having their opposite ends carrying weights 29, which can be increased or diminshed to vary the upward pressure of the rolls 26 against their cooperating rolls or against the intervening lumber sheets. The pairs of rolls 25, 26 are arranged between the pairs of rails 9, 16, and somewhat in advance of the sprockets 11 (the'lower chains 8 in this example being of greater length than the upper chains 16) and of the extended rear ends 9 of the lower rails 9. The sheets to form the wire bound box blanks are placed on the extended rail ends and are pressed forward into the bite beward on the main orlower feed linkbelts 8 and into thebite between belts 8 and 16. As the rollers feed the sheets slightly faster than the belts, each succeeding sheet is there by held tightly against the rear edge of the sheet in advance for the provision of tight joints between the sheets of the blanks after stapling. The saw-like teeth of the feed chain's permitthe rollers tothus press the sheets rapidly forward between said chains as the sheets can slide forwardly over these teeth because of the inclined edges, while the points of the teeth prevent the chains from slipping forward past the sheets, and thus hold the sheets with their edges tightly abutting. The points of the teeth enter and bite into the lumber'sheets and positively carry the sheets through the machine and yet readily release the same at the discharge end of the machine. The presser bars 15 hold the upper chains to the sheets and the sheets to the lower rail and the teeth of the lower chains, while the rails will flatten out warped and cupped lumber sheets and enable the chains to positively and accurately feed and hold suchdistorted sheets during the stapling operation.

The presser means to hold the lumber sheets to the main or bottom feed chains, need not embody upper feed chains, such as 16, and I do not wish to limit my invention to such chains. Where presser bars or rails fbed. 'By looseningthe nutson the bolts reduce to the minimum-friction betweenthe .7 lumber sheets and press'er bars or rails. For

instance, where upper chains are not employed, the presser bars or rails '15 corres'ponding to presser'ra'ils15 and mounted and supported in a similar manner, can be,

a provided with means affording a rolling con- "tact with the lumber sheets; To this end the longituihnal bottom 15011310113 of said rails v at their ends andcontaining balls de' "pending'from the rails :to contact the upper surfaces of-the lumber sheets. The guideway forthc lumber sheets establishcduby" the rails 9, can be varied in width 'by'later'al adjustment of one of the rails 9 toward and from theother rail9 to receive lumber sheets of different widths.

This is rendered possible because-said rails carry the pressure rails and the various rolls and sprockets at the "sheet IQCElVlIlg end of fur ,zu

the machine; At' the discharge end of the fnachine; the ShaftslO, 23 are extendedlateri ally and formed with longitudinal key-Ways 10 and the sprockets 20, 10 on the extended ends-of said sheets are Slidablelongitudh n'ally of said shafts and have keys slidable in said keyways;

v Inthe specific example illustratedi the two rails 9, rest on and extend'transversely across the-bed 1; extending horizontally between llflllS are clamped on :this bedby "bolts 1 and joining the two frame uprights l. The

1 The heads-of these bolts are located in undercut grooves arranged longitudinally of-the "the bolts arethereby loosened in the grooves :and are thencapableof 'sliding therein lonscribed, .I-preferably shift but one rail, to

wit: the rail cooperating with y the feed :chains on the SproCketsflO 20', that are' Hl ongitudinallylslidable on the shafts 10; 23.

I'find that thei'nitial rapid 'feed forde-"' -"li\ 'ering the pieces oflumber orboards to} j thefr'eiatively slow moving feed cha1n,; 1s

[effective impressing therboards together to bringtheirengagmg edges-into close contact the sheets 'sl1de;' pressermeans for holding .find that the friction feed "rolls are of'pe-f thu'shold the boards in closecontact. I also{ cul'iar advantage in this initial feed,'as the upper rolls-canslip on the surfaces of'the boards when such boards 1 are "pressed forf the sh eets to the ceding boardsthat are slowly traveling with I ing action thereon.

"'It is'evident that'vari'ous changes," modifications and'vaiiations might be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of myin i ention and hence I 'do not wish to limit myself totheex'act disclosures hereof.

WVhat I'claim is': p v

1. Feed mechanism for'sheet lumber and the 1i1 e:,'comprisin a rapid initial'd'eliver- ,arerformed with undercut or dovetailed ring device, in combination with an endless roller or ball. grooves or channels 15 closed 'c'on veyer having longitudinal fblades with longitudinally inclined edges terminating at their" front ends in elevated forwardly fac- 'ing biting" points t'o'pennit't'he sheets to slip *presserj means.

2. Feedmechanismlfor sheet lumber and the like, comprising a'firapid'. initial feeder in combination with spacednpper and lower longitudinal frailsbetween' which the sheets slide and by which they are'inaintained flat, and anendless sheet-advancing conveyer movable longitudin'ally 'ofgsaidrails and "formed Twith forwardly jinelined pointed sheet biting teethjsa-id feeder arranged to press the sheets rapidly forward'along the 'receivingend of the slowly advancing con veyeigthe sheets and teeth-being maintained in operative relation 'by" saidrails to hold teeth and the teeth to the sheets. p a

E 3.; Feed mechanism for sheet lumber and the like, comp-rising an; initial feeder, in

combination with a guid'e'way along which the sheetsfsl de, presser means for holdmg the sheets to and flattened outon said guideway as theyare advanced along the same, and a 'conveyer for "advancing the sheets along sa d 'gu deway, said conveyer having a"suocession of longitudinally arranged forwardly projectingsheet biting teeth arrangedto prevent forward slipping ofthe conveyer on the sheets and to permit forward slipping of the sheets on the conveyer underthepushing force ofthe initial. 'feefder y 4. Feed mechanism for sheet lumber and the like; comprising a guideway along which the sh'eets to" and flattened x out on 'said guideway as a they "are advaaeed along the same, and a foonifeyer for advancing the sheets along said :guid'e'w'ay, said conv'eyer having. a" succession of -.lofngitudinally arranged prejecjting sheet bi ing teeth, each tooth ,-Having itsle'dge toward the sheets-- in ea-ward into snugl'engagement with the pre clined 1bagitaaina11y"ahd*atits rrsneend terminating in an elevated forwardly facing point to positively take hold'of and advance the sheet and yet permit forward movement of the sheet with respect to the conveyer, in combination with means for thus pressing each sheet rapidly forward along the receiving end of the conveyer.

5. Feed mechanism for advancing lumber sheets, comprising longitudinal guide rails for the sheets, a longitudinal conveyer for positively advancing the sheets along said rails and maintaining the relative positions thereof in combination with friction feed rolls provided with supporting brackets carried by said rails, said rolls rapidly advancing the sheets on said rails and on the receiving end of the conveyor to establish the sheet positioning, said rolls including a positively driven roll and a yieldingly held opposing idler roll and means for positively driving said conveyer.

6. Feed mechanism for advancing lumber sheets, comprising a guideway along which the sheets are advanced and a positively driven longitudinal conveyer for positively advancing the sheets along said guideway and for maintaining the established positioning of the sheets, in combination with friction feed rolls at the receiving end of the guideway and constructed and arranged to successively advance the sheetsonto said way and along the receiving. end of said conveyer to establish the positioning of the sheets, said rolls embodying a feed roll driven from said conveyor and arranged to one side of the receiving end thereof and a cooperating friction roll.

7. Feed mechanism for sheet lumber and the like, comprising parallel rails forming a guideway for sheets, said rails having de pressed longitudinal channels, endless link ,belt sheet feed chains set down in and traveling forward in said channels and having forwardly inclined sheet biting teeth projecting above the channels to positively take hold of the sheets and slide them forwardly along said rails, and normally-fixed means above the rails to hold the sheets down and flattened on the rails an'dto said teeth in combination with a relatively rapid initial friction feed for forcing said sheets forward on and with respect to said chains, substantially as described.

y 8. Feed mechanismfor sheet lumber and the like, comprising a guideway along which the sheets are advanced embodying means to hold the sheets down to and flattened out on the guideway, an endless sheet conveyer traveling forwardly longitudinally of the guideway and means to positively take hold of and advance the sheets and yet permit forward movement of the sheets with respect to the conveyor, and means for pressing the sheets forwardly in said guideway and onto said conveyor at a relatively rapid rate of rapidly moving means for delivering sheets to the receiving end of said guideway and pressing the same forward longitudinally of said conveyer to snugly press the sheet being delivered against the sheet in advance.

10. Feed mechanism for sheet lumber and the like, comprising a guideway for said sheets embodying longitudinally channeled rails, endless link belts movable forwardly in said channels and havingprojecting teeth for biting into and positively advancing the sheets, said teeth being forwardly inclined to force the sheets forward with the chains and permit the sheets to be forced forward over the teeth, and feed rolls for rapidly delivering sheets to said guideway and forcing the same forward past said teeth and into tight edge engagement.

l1. Feed mechanism for sheet lumber and the like, comprising upper positively driven friction feed rolls, cooperating lower idler rolls yieldingly upheld toward the. upper rolls, a guideway in which sheets are rapidly pressed forward by said rolls, and a sheet conveyer to receive the sheets from said rolls and having teeth for biting into said sheets and positivelymoving them forward in said guideway at a relatively slow speed to permit the rolls to press the sheets together on the conveyer. v 12. Feed mechanism for sheet lumber and the like, comprising upper and lower sheet advancing endless link belts having forwardly inclined teeth, means positively driving said belts in unison, and longitudinally channeled upper and lower rails in which said belts longitudinally travel and by which said belts are held to the sheets, said rails forming a guideway for the sheets.

13. Feed mechanism for sheet lumber and the like, comprising longitudinal rails on which the sheets slide forward. friction feed 14. Feed mechanism for sheet lumber and the like, Comprising longitudinal rails on which the sheets slide forward, rapidly rotating feed rolls carried thereby, upper rails for holding the sheets to the lower rails.

meanswhereby the upper rails are supported receive sheets of different widths.

15'. Feed mechanism for advancing lumber sheets to stapling mechanism in a wire bound box blank machine, comprising longitudinal rails forming guideways on which the sheets slide forward, endless belt sheet conveyer means for positively advancing the sheets along said rails, upper rails carried bythe ilower rails for flattening out the sheets and holding them down on the lower rails and conveyor means, said upper rails being vertically adjustable with respect to the lower rails to accommodate sheets of different thickness, and means normally maintaining said lower rails in fixed position and relation and whereby the distance between said pairs of upper and lower rails can be varied to receive sheets of different widths.

16. Feed mechanism foradvancing lumbcr sheets to stapling mechanism in a wire bound box blank machine, comprising a fixed bed plate, longitudinal rails extending across 7 and resting thereon and forming guideways on which the sheets slide forward, sheet conveyer means for positively advancing the sheets along said rails, upper rails carried by the lower rails for flattening out the sheets and holding them down on the lower rails and conveyer means, said upper rails being vertically adjustable with respect to the lower rails to accommodate sheets of different thickness, and means normally maintaining said lower ails in fixed position and relation and whereby the distance between said pairsofupper and lower rails can be varied to receive sheets of different widths.

17 Feed mechanism for advancing lumber sheets to stapling mechanism in a wire bound box blank machine, comprising means constructedand arranged to flatten outand advance'sheets of. a blank in close succession, said means embodying a conveyer formed to prevent slip of the conveyer on the sheets.

vanced by the conveyer,in combination with an initial friction feeder for successively advancing thesheets .into said means at a speed greater than that of the conveyer and for causing said forward slip of the sheets in the conveyer, substantially as described.

18. Feed mechanism for advancing lumber sheets, comprising a relatively slow conveyer for positively advancing said sheets, in combination with a relatively fast friction feeder for successively delivering the sheets to and forcing them rapidly forward on the re ceiving end of said conveyer to force the sheets into the desired close relation on the conveyer, said conveyer constructed and'arranged to maintain the relative positioning of the sheets established by'said feeder.

19. Feed mechanism for advancing lumber sheets, comprising means: embodying a conveyer for flattening out the sheets and positively advancing the same while maintaining the relative relation of the sheets, in combination with an 1n1t1al feeder for successively forcing the sheets into said means and for establishing in said means the relative relation of said sheets, said feeder emlbodying idler friction rolls yieldingly held against the sheets and opposing positively rotated frictionfeed rolls.

20. Feed mechanism for advancing lumber sheets, comprising means for positively advancing the sheets in succession while maintaining the same flattened out, said means constructed and arranged to inaintain the relative positions of the sheets established at the sheet receiving end of said means, in combination with a "relatively rapid initial feeder for successively deliverin the sheets directly to the sheet receiving end of said means and for pressing the.

sheets forward thereinto establish said'positioning of the sheets.

21. A machine for use in making wirebound boxes comprising, in combination, means for applying binding wire to 'box parts; means for positively advancing sheets of side material; and a relatively fast friction feeder for successively delivering said sheets to said positive advancing means andfor forcing them into desired close relation, said positive feeding. means being constructed and arranged to maintain the relative positioning of the sheets established by said friction feeder.

22. A machine for use in making wire bound boxes comprising, in combination, means for applying binding wire-to box parts; means for positively advancing sheets of side material; and. a friction feeder for successively delivering said sheets to said positive advancing means'and for position- 1ng the same thereon, said .posltive feeding means being constructed and arranged to maintain the relative positioning of the sheets established by said friction. feeder; said machine being adapted to operatewithout interruption onmaterials. for a plurality of boxes.

23. A machine for usein making wirebound boxes having a plurality of sheets of side material, comprising, in combination,

means for applying binding Wire to the sheets; means for positively advancing the sheets; and a friction feeder for successively delivering the sheets to said positive advancing means and for positioning the same thereon, said positive feeding means being constructed and arranged to maintain the relative positioning of the sheets established by said friction feeder.

24. A machine for use in making wirebound boxes having a plurality of sheets of side material, comprising, in combination, means for applying binding Wire to box parts; positive Work-forwarding means constructed and arranged to permit the sheets of side material to be advanced thereon and to prevent said sheets from slipping backward thereon; and a friction feeder for delivering said sheets to said positive workforvvarding means and positioning the same thereon.

25. A machine for use in making Wirebound boxes having a plurality ofsheets of Side material comprising, in combination, means for applying binding Wire to box parts; positive work-forwarding means for the sheets constructed and arranged to permit the sheets to be advanced thereon in the direction of travel of the Work-forwarding means and preventing movement of the sheets in the opposite direction; and a frictional feeding mechanism for advancing the sheets to desired position on the Work-for warding means.

JOHN SHELLENBERGER. 

